A MOCHDRE rising star is performing in London’s West End with one of Britain’s best-loved comedians.

Simon Holland Roberts, 33, is now performing at Trafalgar Studios with Lenny Henry in North Broadsides’ modern take on Othello.

Playing Desdemona’s cousin Lodovico, Simon is loving every minute of the show which was on the road for eight months before it was brought to the West End to rave reviews this month.

“I’ve performed in London before but it is the first time I’ve performed at the West End,” he said.

“It is a totally different ball game, the audience is very different. I’m used to audiences around the UK being quite warm, the West End audiences are harder to please. They are great and go with it but take a lot longer to warm up.

Simon has had parts on Coronation Street, ITV’s the Street and performed on stage as far as Beijing and Shanghai.

The former Eirias High School student says he has empathy with Lenny Henry, who plays the tortured Moor, in terms of dealing with the common misconception that Shakespeare is boring and old fashioned.

“I think people think Shakespeare is pretentious and are used to people in tights with posh accents doing it. I’m a Welshman and we are a bunch of northerners who do Shakespeare in our own accents, so people up north can understand us,” he said.

“Lenny developed a phobia growing up in Birmingham of Shakespeare, when he was in school he hated it. I read bits in school, but Shakespeare is not meant to be read, it is supposed to be performed, it is only late in life when you do it that you get it.

“But Lenny is an inspiration. He is a genuinely nice bloke, a lovely man. He is very warm considering he is a national treasure and a founder member of Comic Relief. He is warm genuinely down to earth geezer.

Simon grew up on Heol Fryn, Mochdre but lost his well known and much loved mum, Sue Jones nearly 18 months ago. Sue was popular community and county councillor but passed away in April 2007 after a long battle with her health.

Simon says his mum played a major part in his success and said he wouldn’t be where he was today without the help of his mum.

“My mum was a very big supporter of the arts in North Wales,” said Simon.

“She was the first to support me in everything I do. She would be very proud of what I’m doing now, I’m performing on stage in the West End with Lenny Henry to packed out houses, so she must have done something right.”

Simon also now runs the Pigtown Theatre Company with his girlfriend, Victoria Fleming offering drama workshops to children across Conwy county. For more information log on to www.pigtown-theatre.co.uk or e-mail info@pigtown-theatre.co.uk